2015-09-01 Modernisierung Von Skitube EN
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MEDIENMITTEILUNG Bussnang, 1.9.2015 Upgrade for Perisher Skitube Rail The Skitube Alpine Railway in the Australian Snowy Mountains is set for a major upgrade after almost 30 years of reliable service, transporting millions of people up to Perisher Ski Resort in the Kosciuszko National Park. The Swiss train company Stadler Rail, which is the world’s only provider of the rack and rail system employed by Skitube has just been awarded a two million dollar contract to upgrade the trains’ control systems. Skitube employs a Swiss - designed rack and rail system which uses a toothed cog pinion wheel engaging with a centrally located rack to drive and brake the trains safely up and down the steep mountain inclines. Perisher CEO Peter Brulisauer said after almost 30 years of operations replacement parts were becoming increasingly hard to find, so the decision had been made to upgrade and modernise Skitube. “Skitube has safely carried over four million passengers up to Perisher Valley and Blue Cow and remains the most efficient and practical way to allow people to experience the very best of Perisher,” said Mr Brulisauer. The modernisation program for Skitube, which is scheduled to be carried out during the off-season between October 2016 and April 2017, will ensure that the system continues to meet the highest of Swiss safety standards for rack railways. Upgraded braking The new train control system to be installed by Stadler includes upgraded braking, electronic control equipment and driver displays for controlling and monitoring train functions. Stadler will also carry out commissioning, safety and functionality tests together with Perisher’s rail specialists. Construction of Skitube began in October 1984, by a consortium of Swiss and Australian companies. The project involved the boring of two tunnels 3.3 and 2.6 kilometers long, to provide easy access for passengers to travel from Bullocks Flat to the snow fields of Perisher Valley and then on to Blue Cow. Testament of longevity The first stage of the line was officially opened in July 1987. In 1998 Stadler took over the original equipment manufacturer, the Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works firm, which was responsible for designing and manufacturing the Skitube rack railway system. Peter Jenelten, Stadlers Vice President, said after almost 30 years in operation Skitube was a testament to the reliability and longevity of Swiss rail technology. “We are delighted that Swiss industry and expertise is able to help extend the life cycle of this unique Australian train,” he said. Up to 25 degrees The rack railway system allows trains to climb much steeper grades than would otherwise be possible - up to 25 degrees, depending upon the type of rack system employed, compared to 4 to 6 degrees for standard trains. Stadler rack railway trains tackle some of the highest and steepest challenges for railway engineering around the world. Their most famous projects include the train up to the Monserrat Monastery near Barcelona in Spain; and the legendary Swiss Jungfrau train which carries passengers up to Europe’s highest railway station, the Jungfraujoch, to view the Matterhorn. Seite 1/2 Stadler Rail AG CH-9565 Bussnang Tel +41 (0)71 626 31 57 Fax +41 (0)71 626 20 21 www.stadlerrail.com For further information please contact: Stadler Rail Group Marina Winder Secretary General Head of Communications & PR Telefon: ++41 (0)71 626 31 57 Mobile: ++41 (0)78 843 57 20 E-Mail: [email protected] or MacGregor Public Relations John MacGregor Managing Director Telefon: ++61 (0)2 9968 3600 E-Mail: [email protected] About Stalder Rail Stadler Rail Group, system supplier of customer-specific solutions for rail vehicle construction, has locations in Switzerland (Altenrhein, Bussnang, Winterthur and Biel), in Germany (Berlin-Pankow, Berlin-Hohenschönhausen, Berlin- Reinickendorf and Velten), in Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands, Belarus, Algeria and in the USA. The Group has a workforce of around 6000 people. The best-known vehicle series from Stadler Rail Group are the articulated multiple-unit train GTW (600 trains sold), the Regio-Shuttle RS1 (497 trains sold), the FLIRT (1120 trains sold), the double-decker multiple-unit train KISS (216 trains sold) and the high-speed train EC250 (29 trains sold) in the railway segment, and the Variobahn (365 vehicles sold) and the Tango (159 vehicles sold) in the tram segment. The Metro is another addition for the commuter rail market (2+34 vehicles sold). Furthermore, Stadler Rail manufactures metre-gauge trains, passenger carriages and locomotives and is the world’s leading manufacturer of rack-and-pinion rail vehicles. Seite 2/2 Stadler Rail AG CH-9565 Bussnang Tel +41 (0)71 626 31 57 Fax +41 (0)71 626 20 21 www.stadlerrail.com .